Ruairí Ó Murchú

To put it lightly, it would be fair to say we had serious rains and serious flooding. There are issues that need to be dealt with in north Louth. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, he was in Blackrock recently. We need to make sure that catchment-based flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, is driven ahead. For Dundalk and Blackrock south we are only talking about the applic…

11. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that oversees agriculture will next meet. [7693/26]

Commissioners Hansen and Serafin were here last week. We all had an opportunity to engage with them. We had them in at the EU affairs committee. The fear I have is that they did not rule out the ability, the capacity and, maybe, the willingness to introduce provisional application of the Mercosur agreement before the European Court of Justice carries out its due diligence of the legality of the de…

22. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [3640/26]

We have had the really tragic cases of Kyran Durnin-----

-----Oísín Reddin, Daniel Aruebose, Vadym Davydenko-----

We also have the issues raised by the child law project and the terrible case of a serious assault of a ten-year-old girl in Citywest. While we have heard from Tusla that it is reorientating and we know that there are legislative changes on the way, a big issue remains. Mr. Gerry Hone, the national director of services and integration for Tusla, appeared before an Oireachtas committee recently and…

He told me afterwards that at least 500 foster carers are needed.

We do not have sufficient capacity.

12. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the development of the new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland for 2026-2030 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8241/26]

Could the Minister provide an update on the development of the new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector 2026 to 2030? When we talk about the community and voluntary sector, that takes in a whole range of things. I am talking about everything from Muirhevnamor Community Centre through to the family resource centre, FRC, that was set up in Dundalk Counselling Centre. I hope another…

I appreciate the timeline with the caveats the Minister of State provided. The element of engagement with the stakeholders is all very well and good but it is a matter of actually putting a plan in place and then operating it. Like any plan, it will be up for and will need review. We were talking about sustainability. We have all dealt with individual projects from time to time when the pressure i…

We all engage with the community and voluntary sector on a daily basis. Generally that is on the basis that these people can deal with some of the issues that sometimes one cannot get deal with the State agencies, particularly when we are dealing with more complex issues in communities - everything from addiction to mental health services and the supports that are required. I mention the likes of …

That is what we need.

77. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the recent engagement her Department and the Government has had with the European Union and the EU Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8653/26]

The question relates to governmental engagements with the European Union and the European Commission. I was at the committee during the week when we met with Commissioners Hansen and Serafin. I will ask specifically about Mercosur. We can have an argument about how strong the Government was in its opposition to it but what the Commissioners said was that it is within the EU's gambit, if it wants, …

We do not have time to get into arguments about what the Irish Government could have done to oppose the Mercosur trade deal, which is a lot more. The fact is - we heard it from the commissioners recently - that the Commission can allow for the provisional application of the Mercosur deal, which would undermine democracy and the vote that already happened in the European Parliament. We need to ensu…

Yet.

I also add my voice in relation to those who have been injured and offer condolences to the family of the man who has died. I have spoken too many times over the last short period about absolute tragedies. It is obviously disappointing to see this on the streets of Dublin. Too many times have I had to commend those who work in the emergency services. As Deputy O’Reilly said, we do not always think…

De réir Bhuan-Ordaithe 85(2), cuirfear an vótáil siar go dtí an am vótála seachtainiúil Dé Céadaoin, 11 Feabhra 2026.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil - To discuss schools infrastructure in Kildare North. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss an update on settlements with south Kerry CAMHS victims. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss insurance protections for people imp…

6. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach for an update on the programme for Government. [3639/26]

We need to deal with the planning and delivery of infrastructure. I have received a letter from the parent of a child attending junior infants in St. Mochta's National School in Louth village. The parent writes that two classes are currently being taught in the school hall and special education teachers are teaching in a cupboard, in the staff room and in a corridor due to lack of space. I have pr…

Yes. It is about departmental engagement with the three schools: Ardee Educate Together, St. Mochta's National School and Monksland National School.

Yes.